Festival hall returns to parish

CABINET members have unanimously voted to return the Festival Hall to Alderley Edge Parish Council - as long as a mutually beneficial funding agreement between the borough and the parish can be agreed.

CABINET members have unanimously voted to return the Festival Hall to Alderley Edge Parish Council - as long as a mutually beneficial funding agreement between the borough and the parish can be agreed.

Councillor Andrew Knowles said it had been a lot of hard work, but added: "Everyone is a winner."

In addition to capital savings for the borough, Coun Knowles said the council’s revenue budget would be reduced from savings on overheads previously incurred servicing and maintaining the hall.

Cabinet chairman Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald said: "This is one that’s had a long gestation period – it’s not something that is new to us.

"There will be benefits all around."

Alderley Edge Parish Council have been meeting with borough council representatives since the subject of transferring the building was first broached in September 2005.

The parish council said from the outset they were willing to take on the future management of the property and are keen to progress plans to convert the front of Festival Hall into a medical centre.

Over the last year the borough council has conducted a feasibility study from an architectural and financial perspective to determine if it is possible to locate a surgery in the building while continuing to house the parish council and retain its use as a community facility.

Under the proposal, the front of the hall will be redeveloped to accommodate a surgery controlled by East Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and rented to the PCT at a market rent based on the overall costs of the conversion.

The remaining space in the hall will be remodelled to minimise the loss of facilities or functions, improve access and reduce future maintenance costs.

Alderley Edge councillor Frank Keegan said: "I think it is good news from Alderley Edge’s point of view.

"We started with the idea of converting the front of the hall to a medical centre and we will press on with those plans.

"It will generate lots of income hopefully.

"It also keeps the remaining part of the hall for public use."

Alderley Edge Parish Council chairman Mary Maczkowiak said she was absolutely delighted with the decision and thanked everyone in Alderley who had petitioned their councillor and the borough to transfer the hall back to the village.

"I’m over the moon and it’s fantastic work by everyone concerned.

"The officers obviously came to their senses.

"For the future it’s going to be a fantastic asset for Alderley Edge."

A valuation of the Festival Hall has given an existing use value of between £325,000 and £350,000, and an open market value of between £1.3 million and £1.6 million.

Cabinet have delegated the authority to complete the negotiations for the transfer to the corporate managers of the finance and asset management department and legal and democratic services.